Metallica Album: “Ride the Lightning [Deluxe Edition]”

This cd, like Metallica's "Master of Puppets" was re-mastered by DCC and sounds just as awesome. I know many metallifans are skeptical about purchasing these re-masters, but to my ears, the superior sound quality is there and is noticeable. I have owned a recording of this album (Ride the Lightning) on either record or cd since 1984, and have heard it probably a million times since then. When I heard the remastered cd version today, I heard many things that I hadn't heard before. For example: The clarity in the intro solo by Hammett on "Fade to Black, the way Cliff Burton's roaring, howling lead bass was meant to stand out on "The Call of Ktulu", crisper drums and background vocals on "Creeping Death" and "Trapped Under Ice" are just some of the many sonic improvements on this cd. I understand that it's a lot of money for a cd that most people who are fans of the band already own. But if you are a long time or serious fan/collector, this is a true must have. If you are on a tight budget, or think the standard cd sounds good enough, don't bother. The cd also features re-packaging just like the original album (right down to the original megaforce records label in the upper right hand side of the back cover), though the differences are minimal from the standard issue cd, but noteworthy to the serious fan. I can only hope and pray that the horrendously recorded "And Justice For All" receives a similar treatment in the very near future.

Metallica's second album, 1984's "Ride the Lightning," was the first real metal album I ever bought. When I bought it, I was looking for a really heavy album, so when the first track began with an acoustic intro, I was sorely disappointed. Luckily, however, I skipped to the next song, the title track, and its booming intro brought a big smile to my face. Ah, nostalgia.

With 1983's "Kill `Em All," Metallica helped create thrash metal; but they followed up their debut with their sophomore album, which was released only a year later. Most metalheads have given it the credit it deserves, but I feel "Ride the Lightning" is still somewhat underrated, since the album that followed this one was "Master of Puppets."

"Ride the Lightning" is still fast. Most of it shoots by like...well, lightning; but it's slower, darker, heavier and more mature than "Kill `Em All." James' voice is somewhat lower than it was, and his lyrics are improved. As the above Amazon editorial review mentions, James discusses several different ways to die: Armageddon, capitol punishment, suicide, being trapped under ice, etc.

"Fight Fire with Fire" has the aforementioned acoustic intro, but it's just a tease-it doesn't last. The power chords fade in and the song becomes a breakneck speed, with rip-roaring, almost Slayer-esque guitar work. Lyrically, this songs seems to be about the Apocalypse.

"Ride the Lightning" is the album's most popular single. It's another thrashy number, with booming rhythms, fiery chug and churn riffs (which go from fast to faster to slow to fast), and an awesome, lengthy Hammett solo. "Ride the Lightning" has good lyrics about being executed by the electric chair, and it also has a surprise ending, but most of this song is an instrumental.

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is slower paced, but still loud and heavy. The first two minutes of this song is an instrumental, beginning with a bell ringing, then the heavy, repetitive, churning guitars kick in. This song has another good, winding solo near the end.

"Fade to Black" is really morbid because it has depressing, introspective lyrics about suicide. It begins with a distant guitar solo, but the acoustic strums actually make the first part of this song rather pretty. (Pretty in a dark and depressing way, but pretty nonetheless.) The choruses still have heavy riffs, and the end is an ascending and cascading solo.

"Trapped Under Ice" is very fast paced with another short but sweet guitar solo near the middle.

"Escape" has vocals which make it radio ready (it has good vocal hooks). Most of the song has propulsive riffs with thunderous drumming, but the choruses are slower.

"Creeping Death" begins with machine gun guitars and drumming, before changing to another fast beat with guitars that burn straight ahead. And, of course, there's another stellar solo near the end.

"The Call of KTULU" is the album's instrumental. In my opinion, this song IS as great as "Orion" (from Metallica's next album, "Master of Puppets,") and it's a very good way to end the album. It starts out slowly and ominously with wind wooshes, but then it suddenly becomes a lot faster. This song builds well and has superb guitar and drum work.

So, this disc is another wonderful landmark album and it's still one of the best C.D.'s of the past two decades. All of the qualities of a classic metal or thrash metal album are here: long songs (about 6 minutes per song), rapid fire riffs, ripping solos, an instrumental track, and even some acoustic guitar licks. In conclusion, if you want a complete metal collection, or if you just like heavy metal, you need this album more than you need your next breath.

I used to hate heavy metal and detest it as pure noisy trash. Then one day I found an audio tape of "Ride the Lightning" for a bargain price and decided to buy it. That tape is long worn out, and I had to buy a CD to replace it!

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is, in my opinion, a classic Rock song, to be loved by any Rock music lover, not only heavy-metal lovers. It is strong and powerful. It is my Metallica favorite, and worth the price of the entire disk.

The contrast between the opening notes and the body of "Fight Fire With Fire" is interesting. It gives this song its special flavor.

My next favorite is "Creeping Death", for its fast rhythm and melody.

All songs on this album have easily-listened-to melodies despite their heavy-metal coating, unlike pure heavy-metal albums such as "Master of Puppets", "...And Justice for All" and "Kill 'em All". Only the Black Album (named simply "Metallica") competes with it, but about it I'm gonna write a seperate review. I also quite liked "Load", though it is more complicated.

In short: I recommend "Ride The Lightning" for anyone looking for something that is more than pure "heavy metal", something that has beauty and brilliance.

I bought this CD about a month ago and back then I thought it was good, if unexceptional. Over time, this album grew on me until I now regard it as metal perfection. Ride the Lightning combines the rapid-fire riffs of Kill 'em All with some slower moments in track 4, Fade to Black. Another exceptional part of Ride the Lightning is its flow. Fight Fire with Fire gets me pumped up with its insanely fast riffs. Then the tempo slows a little with the title track and a little more for For Whom the Bell Tolls. It settles way back for Fade to Black then picks up again for Trapped Under Ice. Escape is easily the worst song on the album, but that's not to say it's bad, it's just that the others are so good. Escape's faults are forgotten with the great,heavy track Creeping Death. Finally comes Call of Ktulu. I think this is the true masterpiece of the album. It's the best instrumental Metallica has done (it blows Orion out of the water). After that 9 minute tour de force you can sit back and feel proud to own this masterpiece of metal.

Metallica's debut "Killém All" was an angry thrashing beast that displayed an abundance of youthful aggression, while hinting at more subtle possibilities within its underbelly. "Ride the Lightning", while still thrashing hard at times with grand metal flair, is a far more mature release, and is the real commencement of the hugely commercially successful Metallica institution. This is the Metallica that managed to be both critically praised for their musicianship and inspired songwriting, while unearthing their lofty position within a whole generation of adoring fans. This was not just rebellious teenagers bashing their instruments and screaming irrationally like so many outsiders would try to suggest of the metal genre in general. This was intelligently crafted music, with genuine themes (the death sentence, suicide, even Egyptian based) and creatively fashioned tracks with varying tempos and feel. It's an extremely important album in Metallica's history and an extremely important album in metal history itself.

"Ride the Lightning" has lost none of its power today, over 20 years after its release. The title track, "Fade to Black", "Creeping Death" and "The Call of Ktulu" are simply some of the band's finest tracks, all being part of the band's staple live set for years to come. The only thing that stops "Ride the Lightning" from being my personal favourite Metallica release are the slightly less drool inducing "Trapped Under Ice" and "Escape". Yet even those tracks are far superior to anything the band has released in about the last 15 years.

James, Kirk, Lars and Cliff made history with this album and no metal fan should be without it. It's one of those exceptionally rare moments where a few individuals can join so seamlessly, all playing a vital role and fulfilling a vision in unity. An undeniable classic.